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"Tony Bennett Way" Street Sign Unveiling

On June 2nd, 2018, Tony Bennett, unveiled "his" street sign in front of the storied Fairmont San Francisco, where his first public performance of the iconic classic "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" took place in December 1961. From 12 noon – 3:00 pm, a free-and-open-to-the-public block party with food, music, big-band dancing and a special interactive "Heart Salute" to the legendary crooner will take place on the 900 block of Mason Street, hitherto to be known as Tony Bennett Way. The legislation renaming the street was passed unanimously by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in November of last year, and was one of the last official acts of the late Mayor Edwin M. Lee. Scheduled to be on-hand for the event are U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, former San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Italian Consul General Lorenzo Ortona and San Francisco Director of Protocol Charlotte Shultz among other dignitaries. Liam Mayclem, KCBS Radio's "Foodie Chap", will emcee the event. Providing entertainment will be the Cosmo Alley Cats, Accordionist Suzanne Ramsey, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, the San Francisco Boys Chorus, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and The Dick Bright Orchestra. Shawna Ferris from Beach Blanket Babylon will lead the crowd in a sing-a-long of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."
Photography by: Drew Altizer Photography